Jim,

The 4000 limit is per workbook. Check out article 213904 at the microsoft
knowledge base, www.support.microsoft.com

I don't know why you get that message when you insert a column. The
inserted column has the same formatting as the prior column, so one would
think it'd use existing formats. Make sure you don't have stuff all the way
to the last column (even if you think they're empty). www.contextures.com
has a procedure for that.
--
Earl Kiosterud
mvpearl omitthisword at verizon period net
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"CyberTaz" wrote in message ...
Hi Earl-

I was intrigued by this information. I admit I had never given the issue
any
thought, but was surprised that it works that way. Apparently it pays to
be
consistent with formatting in order to avoid the conflict, but I'm sill
unclear on a couple of points:

This 4,000 "cell style" limit is on a per workbook basis, correct?

Does defining Styles (as in Format Menu) & Custom Formats help lessen the
likelihood of running into this limit?

Why would a book (even with the full 4,000 combinations used) disallow
inserting columns or rows as long as the cells in them are formatted by
one
or more of the allowed 4,000? As I understand it, no new cells are
actually
inserted (16,777,216 is the max), they are simply 'moved' from elsewhere,
so
they must be carrying existing format, right? Wrong?

TIA for any additional enlightenment |:)


On 3/13/05 3:31 PM, in article ,
"Earl
Kiosterud" wrote:

Jim,

I don't think you can. The way I understand it is this. When you do
formatting to a cell, Excel internally creates a thing called a style,
that
contains all the formatting called for in that cell. If you use the same
formatting in another cell, it uses that same style. In your case, it
has
run out of styles it can create. If you can use the same formatting
combinations in some of the currently formatted styles, you may be able
to
economize on styles. Also, be sure to remove any rows/columns beyond
your
used cells you're not really using, in case they're using up styles. I
think
www.contextures.com has the procedure for that

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